Electric blue-printing machine



I 1. H. WAGENHORST. ELECTRIC BLUE PRINTING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21. I916.

1,3 3,352. Patented July 5,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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J. H. WAGENHORST. ELECTRIC BLUE PRINTING MACHINE.

7 APPLICATION FILED JUNEZ. 916- 1,383,352. Patented July 5, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Mal T0213 Akron, in the county of Summit and PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. WAGEN'HOB QST, OF AKRON, OHIO.

ELECTRIC .IBLUE-IPRINTING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, JAMES H. WAGENHORST, a citizen of the United States, residin at tate of Uhio, have invented new and useful Electric Blue-Printing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to electric blue printing machines and more particularly to a continuous printing machine of the horizontal type, that is a type in which the transparent printing means is arranged horizontally, and the tracing and printing papers can be passed through in a continuous run, thereby'overcoming the disadvantage of the ordinary vertical type of machine which is capable of making prints at a maximum coextensive with the size of the cylinder.

@ne object of the invention is to construct a machine of the kind described in which a minimum number of arc lamps can be employed, and in which a Cooper-Hewitt lamp can be employed if desired. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide a printing machine of this class which entirely avoidsthe use of a curtain, and another object is to provide a machine in which reflectors can be used inconnection with the arc lamps thereby utilizing all of light for printing purposes.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide for carrying off the heat generated by the electric lamps and another object is to provide for the rapid drying of the washed print after the printing process has been completed.

it is also an object of the invention to provide a machine in which the tracing cloth and blue print paper can be fed through the machinewithout slipping, and at the desired speed, and preferably by a step by step move ment of predetermined extent or magnitude.

Withthese various objects in view the invention consists in the employment of a section of a glass cylinder arranged horizontally and having a roll arranged opposite said lass and adapted to contact with the concave ace thereof, together with means for rotating said rolland whereby the tracing cloth and printing paper are caused to pass be= tween said roll and glass, and one or more electric lamps arranged opposite the convex face of said glass and spaced-therefrom the re uisite distance.

he invention consists also in means for regulating the pressure upon the roll and Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 21,

possible rays Patented July 5; 1 am.

1916. Serial No. 104,984. r, t

also the rate of rotation; and the invention consists also in arranging one or more reflectors in connection with the electric lamps and in providing a fan operated from the main drive for the purpose of carrying away the heat generated by the lamps and capable i also of drying or assisting in drying the washed print after the printlng operation has been completed.

The invention consists also in certain details of construction. and novelties of com-- pieces'B suitably braced and connected. A.

roll'or cylinder (1, is mounted between the uprights A, the shaft or axis of said roll or cylinder extending through the uprights, the openings in the uprights for the passage of the cylinder axle or shaft are elongated as shown at A instead of being round, so that the roll C can be adjusted transversely with reference to the uprights, this being accomplished by means of pivoted hanger arms D,

pivoted to the uprights at D and carrying the roll shaft at their lower ends, the upper ends having the rods E connected thereto which rods work through an apertured plate til fastened to the upright and the outer end of this rod is surrounded by a spring F against which is fastened the winged nut l5" screwed upon the threaded end of the rod E by means of which the desiredtension or I'll till

pressure is placed upon the roll C through the medium of-the ivoted hanger D.

. A curved-glass is securely supported in the frame and directly opposite the roll (3 and this glass G is curved upon the same are as the roll 0 as shown so that the surface of the roll C can contact snugly and properly with the concaved face of the glass, the roll being covered with felt or other suitable material.

The upper end of the glass is spread slightly as shown at G, and'the lower edge is similarly spread as shown at G thereby providing a V-sha ed space on the upper side of roll for the introduction of the prints ing material and upon the lower side of the roll a similar space is provided to permit the discharge ot the printing material.

By the term printlng material it will be understood that the tracing cloth and blue print paper is meant but it will be understood "that this machine can also be used in connection with any term of negatiye, and printing paper. A suitable trough it, is attached to the frame upon the forward side and is intended to receive and hold the printing material the ends oi the printing material. being first inserted into upper tap ring recess and gripped between the roll and curved surface of the glass, and the roll being held in close contact with the glass will carry the printing material around in the direction indicated when the roll is turned Y The roll is preferably turned seep by step thereby permitting the printing material to be exposed for a predetermined time while it is held perfectly still, this step by step movement or? the ron. is accomplished by placing a ratchet wheel l uponwone end of roll shah; or axle and also a rocking arm l1 which carries a pawl L which engages the ratchet wheel l. The arm K is reel-ted up and down by means of a pitmau slidably connected to the reduced end of the arm as most clearly shown and its lower end is connected to a worm gear ll, operated by a worm U, mounted upon one end of the motor shaft P, and it will be understood that the motor being in constant rotation will cause the gear N to rotate which through the pitman M will rock the arm l'l which carrying the pawl engages the ratchet wheel and turns the roll around step by step, each upward movement of the arm serving to the printing material around between the roll and glass, and by adjusting the conned tion between the pitman and arm the rate of feed can be regulated as the part can be adjusted so as to move a distance of one tooth, two teeth, three teeth, or tour teeth as desired. After the printin material passed around between the rol and glass it is discharged into a second trough id, and if desired provision can be made for separating the negative and print so that the print only is received in this trough H and the Washing liquid can be contained in this trough it it is desired to wash the print immediately alter it is discharged from the printing cylinder.

The printing operation is accomplished by means or are lamps Q, there being four such lamps shown in the present instance, but it will of course be understood that the number of lamps employed and likewise the type of lamp will depend to a certain extent upon the nature of the work required, but I have found that by means of reflectors and the proper positioning of arc whole, or in part by cutting out some of lamps ll am able to get a print of unitorm exposure or uniform development and thereby cut down the amount of current by onethird as compared with the cylindrical type of electric blue printing machines.

Lin the cylindrical. type of machine in which a lamp was employed having the current supplied to the lower carbon holder there Was a tendency for the arc to blow, and this was objectionable as the earl would cast shadow on one side and tore, under expose paper that you type 015 are however,

.L ticular advantage connection. w horizontal type of printer such as w now describing, and where only a v of ,the direct rays of light can be used stead of the'complete circle of light a the vertical type or"- machine. This blowi ofthe arc blows the light of the glass G, and theretore increases efiiciency of the lamp 1n order to taire advanta light rays provide re'flecto angles to the of ti o these retlectorsbeing sup members attached. to the main "frame, it will be understood that the arc lamps are suspended from hraclrets attached to the main frame, and provided with suitable at switches rheostats torthe control of the current,

if desired a rotary tan E can be C) I '1 m in the direction to the I $9 one end or the reflector box and w .-1 a is tion oi this fan. being to remove the air as quickly as possible and prevent the same coming in contact with the glass, furthermore,- this heated air can be utilized or for drying theprints in case they are put into the bath immediately the j come from the printing glass and roller.

'lhe rheostats switches, etc. are a l in easy reach oi the operator and it will be under stood that the machine can be operated the lamps. The fan motor can be operated separately from the lamps so that the tan can be used as a drier independent of the printing operation out the machine.

As prev ously stated the printing material is fed in over the top of the roll and comes out under the bottom oat roll, passing around between the roll and concave face of the glass, and as the roll is moved step by step there will be frequent periods of rest tor the printing material as it passes through the machine. This mode of operation is highly advantageous.

lit will also be understood that the operation of the machine is continuous and consequently any length of print can be made and.

it will be noted that curtains or coverings of printing operation being made b the direct application of the light rays t rough the concavo-convex glass, the printing material being held firmly against the concaved face by means of the felt covered roll which has a constant pressure and consequently holds and feeds the printing material in its proper position while passing through the machine.

The felt covered roll can be adjusted as to tension in order to accommodate varying thicknesses of printing material and its ste by step movements can be regulated or a justed according to the nature of the printmg material being used it being well understood that. some papers require longer periods of exposure than others, and consequently the rate of assage through the machine must be regu ated accordin 1y.

It will be seen therefore, that provide a simple, inexpensive, and eflicient electric blue printing machine of the continuous and horizontal type capable of carrying out all of the objects hereinbefore referred to.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I show a modification in which a strip of plate glass 10 is arranged between the uprights A, and in connection therewith an endless belt 11 of the full width of the machine is moved step by step by the rolls l2 and 13 around which it travels, one of said rolls being connected with and operated from the motor as already described. The materials pass between the glass and belt, and a roll 19 acts in conjunction with the roll 13 to direct the materials to trough H. A flat presser plate 15 ofsuitable material holds the endless belt against the glass plate, this presser plate having slotted ends '16 attached to uprights A, and bow springs 17 bear against the presser plate at definite points, said bow springs being connected to a bar 18 adjustably connected to the uprigh s. Lamps Q are arranged as previously described and also the reflectors R, and it will be noted that the reflecting surfaces are of such length and arranged at such angles that the light rays are evenly distributed and projected in straight lines.

What I claim is: y

The combination with a transparent medium, of a source of light upon one side thereof and spaced therefrom, a flexible apron contacting with the opposite side of said medium, variable pressing means contacting with said apron, means for moving said apron step by step, and means for varying the distance of each ste JAMES H.W (fENHOR-ST. Witnesses:

WALTER K. MEANS,

J D. Tiaw. 

